Attachment device for mops and the like

ABSTRACT

AN ATTACHMENT DEVICE FOR MOPS AND THE LIKE INCLUDING A PAIR OF MOVABLY INTERCONNECTED CLAMPING MEMBERS ADAPTED TO SECURE A MOP BETWEEN THE ENDS THEREOF. A COLLAR SURROUNDS THE CLAMPING MEMBERS AND IS ADAPTED FOR LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT TO SECURE THE CLAMPING MEMBERS IN A CLOSED POSITION ABOUT A SWAB AND FOR MOVEMENT OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH THE CLAMPING MEMBERS TO PERMIT REMOVAL OF THE SWAB.

Sept. 20, 1971 v. 059 ETAL ATTACHMENT DEVICE FOR MOPS AND THE LIKE Original Filed July 15. 1968 INVENTORS S A? A o N M R A N 6 M ww TE T United States Patent 3,605,161 ATTACHMENT DEVICE FOR MOPS AND THE LIKE Theron V. Moss, 3175 Falmouth, Shaker Heights, Ohio 44120, and Austin T. Dalhart, Bay Village and Erwin Tomm, Cleveland, Ohio; said Dalhart and Tomm assignors to said Moss Continuation of application Ser. No. 744,851, July 15,

1968. This application Nov. 10, 1969, Ser. No. 875,517

Int. Cl. A471 13/20 U.S. Cl. 15-150 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An attachment device for mops and the like including a pair of movably interconnected clamping members adapted to secure a mop between the ends thereof. A collar surrounds the clamping members and is adapted for longitudinal movement to secure the clamping members in a closed position about a swab and for movement out of engagement with the clamping members to permit removal of the swab.

DISCLOSURE This application is a continuation of copending U.S. application Ser. No. 744,851, filed July 15, 1968, now abandoned, and relates generally as indicated to an attachment device for mops and the like and more particularly to a device for attaching a mop swab to a handle.

In mops which have been previously known, bundles of yarn are secured to an appropriate handle by a metallic clamp type holder with the side or swab portions extending separately therefrom. The use of a metallic clamp is a serious disadvantage, however, since furniture, baseboards, etc. which come in contact with such device can be easily damaged. A certain amount of skill is also required to use such mops to achieve effective results as the mops are generally cumbersome and unwieldy to use due to the metallic clamp. Moreover, such metallic clamps are generally very difiicult to manipulate to remove the swab when it becomes soiled or worn out.

It is accordingly a principal object of the present invention to provide an attachment device which will not damage furniture, baseboards, or other objects which it may contact when the mop is used.

Another object of this invention is the provision of an attachment device for mops and the like which can be readily attached or detached from a swab and which is capable of use with swabs of various sizes.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide an attachment device which is simple, durable and economical in construction and which may be readily manipulated to attach a mop swab to a handle or to remove the same therefrom.

Other objects, features and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following more detailed description of the invention.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawings setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary section view illustrating the attachment device of this invention connected to a mop swab and handle;

3,605,161 Patented Sept. 20, 1971 FIG. 2 is a fragmentary section view taken on line 22 of FIG. 1 with the mop swab being omitted for clarity of illustration;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary section view showing the collar out of engagement with the clamping members;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of one of the clamping members taken on line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the other clamping member taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 is a section view taken on line 66 of FIG. 4.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the attachment device includes a pair of movably interconnected clamping members 1 and 2 which are adapted to secure a mop swab or the like 3 between the respective ends 4 and 5. The lower ends of the clamping members each have a plurality of teeth 6 which facilitate securing the swab therebetween. A collar 7 surrounds the interconnected clamping members and is movable longitudinally of such members to secure them in a closed position to retain the swab, as shown in FIG. 1, and for movement out of engagement with the clamping members to permit removal of the swab, as shown in FIG. 3.

The clamping members 1 and 2 include generally semicylindrical stem portions, and clamping member 1 has a plurality of thread sections 10 at the upper portion of its semi-cylindrical stem portion. Collar 67 is threaded 0n the interior surface at 11 whereby the collar can threadedly engage with the clamping member 1 for the aforedescribed longitudinal movement. The thread sections are provided only on clamping member 1 as this gives greater leadway to engage the clamping members with the collar.

The clamping member 1 has a cylindrical extension 12 at its upper end. A handle 13 may be connected to the clamping device merely by inserting the cylindrical extension 12 within the hollow handle ;13. As shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, the collar 7 is preferably threaded only at its upper portion to provide a lower portion 14 of slightly greater interior diameter to facilitate the accommodation of swabs of various sizes as this space permits the clamping members 1 and 2 to expand slightly to accommodate the larger swabs.

Referring to FIGS. 4 6 inclusive, the construction of the clamping members is shown more clearly. The clamping members '1 and 2 have reinforcing ribs 20 and 21 on the interior surfaces thereof. The cylindrical extension 12 of clamping member 1 has a longitudinal slot 22 therein which has an enlarged upper portion 23 which cooperates with the distal end 24 of clamping member 2 to movably interconnect such members.

As shown in FIG. 5, the clamping member 2 has a reduced upper end portion 25 of narrow width with a lug 26 on the distal end thereof of greater width than the reduced end portion. The lug and reduced end portion of clamping member 2 may be inserted within slot 22 and enlarged portion 23 of clamping member 1 so as to be movably retained therein by handle 13 which covers enlarged portion 23 and part of slot 22, whereby a swab or the like may be inserted between or removed from the ends of the clamping members. The clamping member 1 is beveled at 27 adjacent the lower portion of cylindrical extension 12 which serves as a stop for handle 13.

To assemble the attachment device to a swab, it is only necessary to move the collar out of engagement with the clamping members and insert a mop swab therebetween as shown in FIG. 1. A longitudinal slot 28 may be provided in the end of the handle 13 adjacent the bevel 27 in alignment with the reduced end portion 25 of the clamping member 2 to permit greater outward movement of the clamping member 2 with respect to the clamping member 1 as shown in FIG. 3, if desired. The clamping members can then be closed about the swab, the collar lowered and engaged threadedly with the thread section 10 of clamping member 1. As will be readily apparent, there must be sufficient clearance between the clamping members 1 and 2 and lower portion 14 of collar 7 such that when the clamping members are closed about the swab as aforesaid, the movable clamping member 2 will not interfere with slipping of the collar over the upper ends of the clamping members and engaging of the threads 11 on the collar with the threads 10 on clamping member 1. Once threaded engagement is established, continued rotation of the collar in a tightening direction will cause the collar to advance along the threads 10 and force the clamping member 2 toward the clamping member 1 for tightly securing the mop swab therebetween. It Will thus be appreciated that the attachment device can be easily connected to a swab or disconnected therefrom and due to the provision of a plurality of thread sections, the device can easily accommodate swabs of various sizes.

The attachment device is preferably of plastic, as for example, polypropylene or polyethylene, but other materials may also be used if desired, as for example aluminum or other metals.

The attachment device of this invention is suitable for use with various types of mop swabs, and is particularly suitable for use with the mop swabs illustrated and described in US. Pats. 2,825,914, 3,011,198 and 3,115,658. These patents disclose features which are highly advantageous in the construction of mops particularly suited and arranged for mopping floors, and such features may be included in the mop swabs to be used with the attachment device of this invention.

We, therefore, particularly point out and distinctly claim as our invention:

1. An attachment device for mops and the like comprising a pair of movably interconnected clamping members adapted to secure a mop swab therebetween, one of said clamping members having a reduced portion at one end and an enlarged lug on the distal end of said reduced end portion, the other of said clamping members having a cylindrical extension at one end, and a longitudinal slot in said cylindrical extension, said slot having an enlarged portion at the end of said slot furthest from said other clamping member, said slot and enlarged portion being of a size to closely accommodate said reduced end portion and enlarged lug, respectively, on said one end of said one clamping member for interconnecting said clamping members, means surrounding said cylindrical extension for retaining said enlarged lug within said enlarged portion of said slot while permitting inward and outward movement of said one clamping member with respect to said other clamping member, and collar means surrounding said interconnected clamping members for movement longitudinally thereof to secure said clamping members in a closed position to retain a swab therebetween and for movement out of engagement with said clamping members to permit outward movement of said one clamping member with respect to said other clamping member for removal of such swab therefrom, said clamping members including generally semi-cylindrical portions, the semi-cylindrical portion of said other clamping member having an externally threaded portion adjacent said cylindrical extension, said collar means having internal threads at one end for threaded engagement with said external threaded portion on said other clamping member for effecting such longitudinal movement of said collar by rotation thereof.

2. The attachment device of claim 1 wherein said collar means is internally threaded adjacent the end furthest from the clamping end of said clamping members, and the other end of said collar means closest to the clamping end of said clamping members has an internal diameter greater than the threaded end to permit said clamping members to accommodate swabs of different sizes.

3. An attachment device for mops and the like comprising a pair of movably interconnected clamping members connected together at one end and adapted to secure a mop swab between the other ends, one of said clamping members having a reduced portion of narrow width adjacent said one end and an enlarged lug on said one end of greater width than said reduced portion, the other of said clamping members having a longitudinal slot adjacent said one end, said slot having an enlarged portion at the end of said slot furthest from said other end, said slot and enlarged portion being of a size to closely accommodate said reduced portion and enlarged lug, respectively, on said one end of said one clamping member for interconnecting said clamping members, means for retaining said enlarged lug within said enlarged portion of said slot while permitting inward and outward movement of said other end of said one clamping member with respect to said other clamping member, and collar means surrounding said interconnected clamping members for movement longitudinally thereof toward said other ends of said clamping members to secure said clamping members in a closed position to retain a swab between said other ends and for movement longitudinally away from said other ends of said clamping members to permit outward movement of said other end of said one clamping member away from said other clamping member for removal of such swab therefrom.

4. The attachment device of claim 3 wherein said means for retaining said enlarged lug within said enlarged portion of said slot comprises a handle telescoped over said one end of said clamping members surrounding said slot.

5. The attachment device of claim 4 wherein said other clamping member has an externally beveled portion adjacent said one end to provide a stop for said handle.

6. The attachment device of claim 4 wherein said handle has a longitudinal slot therein in alignment with said reduced end portion of said one clamping member to facilitate outward movement of said one clamping member with respect to said other clamping member.

7. The attachment device of claim 6 wherein said other ends of said clamping members have a plurality of teeth for securing a mop swab therebetween, and reinforcing ribs are provided on the interior surface of said clamping members to rigidity the same.

8. The attachment device of claim 3 wherein said other clamping member has an externally threaded portion intermediate the ends thereof, and said collar means has internal threads adjacent the end furthest from the clamping ends of said clamping members for threaded engagement with said external threaded portion on said other clamping member for effecting such longitudinal movement of said collar means by rotation thereof, and the other end of said collar means closest to the clamping ends of said clamping members has an internal diameter greater than the outer diameter of the external threaded portion on said other clamping member to permit greater relative outward movement between said clamping members when said collar means is partially retracted to accommodate swabs of different sizes.

9. The attachment device of claim 8 wherein said said externally threaded portion on said other clamping memher is intermediate the connection between said clamping members and the clamping ends of said clamping members.

10. An attachment device for mops and the like comprising a pair of movably interconnected clamping members connected together at one end and adapted to secure a mop swab between the other ends, one of said clamping members having a reduced portion at said one end and the other of said clamping members having a longitudinal slot adjacent said one end for receipt of said reduced portion on said one clamping member for interconnecting said clamping members, collar means surrounding said interconnected clamping members for movement longitudinally toward said other ends to secure said clamping members in a closed position to retain a swab between said other ends and for movement longitudinally away from said other ends to permit outward movement of said other end of said one clamping member with respect to said other clamping member for removal of such swab therefrom, and a handle telescoped over said one ends of said clamping members for retaining said reduced portion on said one clamping member within said slot in said other clamping member.

11. The attachment device of claim 10 wherein said handle has a longitudinal slot therein in alignment with said one end of said one clamping member to facilitate outward swinging movement of said other end of said one clamping member with respect to said other clamping member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 10/1866 Morehouse 15150 7/1871 Edward 15-148 11/1875 Clark 15-148 11/1897 Solem "a 15-1 46 FOREIGN PATENTS 9/1955 Italy 15-178 DANIEL BLUM, Primary Examiner W. THOMPSON, Assistant Examiner 

